Writer: Daniela for Vanbandits
Read time: 10-12mins
Focus: How maximise storage space for food items in your small campervan kitchen.
Things you’ll learn about,
What cupboard store van meals can I prepare to eat healthy & nutritiously on the road? What’s the best way of stocking and storing these in my van? How do I plan my meal week out with these stored meals? How do I prepare them in the van?
When you’re living on the road and preparing for a lot of van life cooking, every inch of space counts—and so does every meal. Cupboard store meals are perfect for this lifestyle. These are campervan meals made from shelf-stable ingredients that don’t need refrigeration, making them ideal for easy campervan meals. Whether you’re full-time on the road or just out for a few weeks, having a stash of reliable, nutritious ingredients in your van life kitchen can make a huge difference.
Not only are van life pantry staples cost-effective and convenient, but they also save precious space and reduce the food waste that no one wants to produce. With a little planning and the right ingredients, store cupboard foods allow you to prepare tasty, balanced meals with minimal resources—no fancy kitchen needed.
We’ll show you how:
1) to stock and store your van pantry
2) plan out your weekly campervan meals
3) cook with what you have on hand
4) give you a free printable shopping list, with campervan cooking ideas
When you’re living in a van, your kitchen setup is a little different from what you’d have in a house. Space is tight, fridge space is minimal (or sometimes non-existent), and you can’t always count on being near a shop. That’s why smart food storage is such a game-changer for van life.
It’s Budget-Friendly
Often local convenience shops can be pricey. A good stock of cupboard essentials means fewer trips to these stores. It can also mean less need for emergency eating out just because you’re low on supplies. This is how buying in bulk and using long-lasting ingredients can help you save money that quickly adds up!More Freedom to Roam
Having a well-stocked van means you don’t need to plan your journey to be near towns or supermarkets. You can head off the beaten track knowing you’ve got everything you need to eat well for days—or even weeks—at a time.Less Daily Decision-Making
Thinking about your meals and planning each day can feel draining. When your van is well stocked with ready-to-go ingredients, you can free up mental space to focus on the real reason you’re out here – enjoying nature and creating an adventure.Health & Energy
Eating nutritious meals is key to keeping your energy and mood at a high level, particularly if you’re living a very active lifestyle as we often do on the road in our van. Having healthy staples on hand makes it much easier to fuel your body with meals that are nutritious, balanced, satisfying, and made from real ingredients.Fridge Space Is Limited
Most van fridges are small—or you might not have one at all. We always struggled for space while we lived in our van. This is another great reason for storing shelf foods! With the right ingredients stored in your cupboards, you can cook great, nutritious meals without needing much (or any) cold storage. In short, good food storage helps you save money, stay healthy, and gives you the freedom to truly embrace life on the road. In this guide, we’ll cover some simple hacks for saving space and storing food efficiently in your van, along with a list of essential store cupboard ingredients to keep on hand. You’ll find easy recipe ideas using those staples, tips for adding great flavour to your meals with minimal gear, and a free printable shopping list to help you stock up on everything you need for tasty, healthy meals on the road.Easy van life meal planning tips
When planning your meals for the week, focus on creating a flexible menu using your pantry staples for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are always a few key ingredients that are super handy to use across all meals in a day, such as oats, canned beans, pasta, and rice. This allows you to eat a great variety of foods and flavours while keeping things simple. Rotate different combinations of these ingredients to keep things interesting throughout the week.
Ensuring you are creating nutritious meals within your van life budget is key. Plan your meals around low-cost pantry items like lentils, rice, and canned vegetables. Bulk buying pantry essentials and using them efficiently helps reduce the overall costs while maximising the nutritional value of your meals.
7 top hacks for food storage space saving
Double-Duty Storage (e.g., Back of the Seat Pockets
● Hanging racks and storage pouches from the back of your seat is an awesome way to use this otherwise dead space.Use Spice Bags or Silicone Pouches
● Spices and herbs can be stored in small silicone bags to reduce their bulk and stack them close together, this is an excellent space-saving hack.Use Hanging Mesh Bags
● Hang fruits and vegetables in breathable mesh bags can be a massive space saver on countertops and keeps the items safe and un-squished while driving.Store Dry Foods in Reusable Silicone Bags
● Reusable silicone bags are airtight and take up less space than bulky plastic containers, perfect for storing snacks. We used these frequently on our trips.Use a Fridge Only for Essentials
● Minimise the items you store in the fridge, keeping everything except perishables (like dairy, and fresh vegetables) in the pantry.Keep extras in the bulkhead or under the bed
● Although you want to keep food handy in the kitchen area, if you are off-road for a while, you might have more than a few days’ worth of food. In this case, store extra cans, packets and jars in a large plastic tub out of the way in the bulkhead or under the bed.Keep snacks accessible
● You don’t have to keep all food in the kitchen area, snacks can be stored in door pockets for handy reach while driving. We used our door and dashboard cubbies for cereal bars and other driving snacks!How to make store cupboard food flavourful
Store cupboard foods can sound a bit dull and bland, so we’ve created a list of the top tips to add flavour and richness to your foods.
Just a few of these added to your regular cooking recipes will elevate your van life meals into something really delicious and special for your months on the road.
Curate a list of top sauces & condiments:
- Soy Sauce: Adds a rich, salty umami flavour to stir-fries, rice, or noodle dishes.
- Hot Sauce: Perfect for adding a spicy kick to everything from eggs to tacos, soups, or sandwiches.
- Tahini: A creamy, nutty paste that’s great in dressings, dips, and wraps, or as a topping for roasted veggies.
- Olive Oil: A versatile base for sautéing, drizzling over salads, or even adding to pasta dishes for extra richness.
- Peanut Butter: Not just for sweet dishes—use it to add a creamy texture and nutty flavour to curries, stir-fries, or sandwiches.
- Curry Paste (Red, Yellow, or Green): Adds intense flavour to soups, stews, or curries. Fry it with garlic and onion to make a delicious base for your dish.
- Mustard: A tangy and rich addition to sandwiches, wraps, or salad dressings.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Great for drizzling over roasted vegetables and any fresh salads and a quick and zesty dressing.
- Chili Sauce or Sambal Oelek: A great way to add heat and flavour to meals. This works especially well in stir-fries, noodles, or rice dishes.
- Tomato Paste: Adds depth and richness to soups, stews, or pasta sauces. Can also be used to thicken and flavour dishes.
- BBQ Sauce: Great for adding a smoky, sweet, or tangy flavour to meats or even grilled vegetables.
- Sriracha: A spicy, garlicky sauce. This is great for adding heat to dishes like noodles, eggs, or rice bowls.
- Coconut Milk: Adds a creamy texture. This is perfect for adding a subtle sweetness to curries, soups, and desserts.
Hummus: A great spread for wraps, sandwiches, or as a dip for vegetables. It adds a creamy and tangy flavour.
Best store cupboard recipe ideas
Here are my personal top 8 van life, entirely store-cupboard recipe ideas—shared from one keen amateur cook and fellow van lifer to another.
Feel free to use these as suggestions and customise them to your taste. Each base meal can be boosted with fresh vegetables, salad, or herbs if you have them on hand, but they’re all flavourful and satisfying just as they are.
I would usually add fresh bits for the first few days after a shop and enjoy these recipes without all the fresh bits being used up.
Wholesome Van Life Breakfasts
- Porridge with chia seeds, nuts, and sugar or honey – A simple, hearty classic. I usually make it with water over low heat to get it as creamy as possible. It’s warming, filling, and costs next to nothing.
Marmite Eggy Bread Bagels – Bagels keep much longer than regular bread, making them a reliable store-cupboard option. I like the salty richness of marmite with eggy bread, but if that’s not your thing, try a sweet version with honey, sugar, or canned fruit.
Simple Van Lunches
- Lentil Soup with Egg Noodles – Made with canned lentils, garlic, and onion as a base. Carrot and celery are great additions if you have them, but not essential. Add a good-quality stock or bone broth, and finish with dried egg noodles. A little chilli on top adds some heat if you like it.
Egg Fried Rice with Beans and Canned Veg – This is a great catch-all meal for using up leftovers, or it works well with just tinned vegetables and basic seasonings. Quick, filling, and adaptable to what you’ve got.
Easy Van Life Dinners
- Soy Mince Bolognese – Dehydrated soy mince is lightweight, space-saving, and packed with protein. It makes a surprisingly hearty sauce when simmered with tomatoes, herbs, and spices.
- Creamy Lentil Fusilli – Use coconut milk for creaminess, lentils for protein, and stock for depth of flavour. If you’ve got pumpkin or red peppers, they go perfectly, but it’s satisfying even without them.
- Chickpea and Coconut Curry – Just chickpeas, coconut milk, and tomato purée. It comes together quickly and can be served with rice, flatbread, or on its own. A great one-pot option.
Tomato Tuna Spaghetti – Tuna is one of the best protein-rich cupboard staples. This quick pasta dish takes one pot and just a few ingredients, making it perfect for a no-fuss dinner.
Van Life Store Cupboard Essentials: Shopping List
For all of my favourite van life meals, this is my ultimate shopping list that I hope will help you to create delicious and wholesome food for some fabulous dinners in your vans.
Proteins:
- Tinned tuna, salmon, or mackerel – Shelf-stable and versatile, ideal for quick salads, wraps, or pasta dishes
- Canned beans (chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, haricot beans, broad beans) – Great for stews, salads, curries, and wraps
- Lentils (red, green, or brown) – A high-protein, hearty ingredient that cooks quickly for soups, stews, and curries
- Dried soy mince – A plant-based protein that is easy to store and cooks quickly, great for wraps, curries, or stir-fries
- Canned or dried chickpeas – For hummus, curries, stews, or roasting as a snack
- Eggs – Packed with protein and a fridge-friendly option for quick meals like scrambled eggs, omelettes, or breakfast sandwiches
Carbohydrates:
- Rice (white, brown, basmati, or jasmine) – A staple carbohydrate that pairs well with most proteins and vegetables
- Spaghetti – Affordable and versatile, perfect for pasta dishes, salads, or casseroles
- Couscous or quinoa – Quick-cooking grains that are light and filling
- Oats – For hearty breakfasts like porridge, overnight oats, or baking
- Tortilla wraps – Great for wraps, quesadillas, or even as a base for pizzas
- Pasta – Spaghetti, penne, fusilli, or any other kind for versatile meal options
- Polenta – A great alternative to rice or pasta, cooks quickly and is perfect for savoury dishes or as a base for stews
Flavour Boosters:
- Stock cubes or powder (vegetable, chicken, or beef) – A great way to add flavour to soups, stews, and rice dishes
- Balsamic vinegar – Adds depth to salads, roasted vegetables, and marinades
- Soy sauce – Essential for stir-fries, marinades, or as a flavour enhancer
- Curry powder, cumin, paprika, turmeric, and chilli flakes – A selection of spices to add variety and flavour to meals
- Tomato paste or puree – For sauces, soups, and curries
- Chopped tomatoes – A base for soups, stews, curries, and pasta sauces
- Honey or maple syrup – Natural sweeteners for porridge, baking, or as a glaze for roasted veggies
- Garlic and onions – Both keep well in a cool place and are key for adding base flavour to any meal
- Dried herbs (oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary) – Essential for adding fresh flavour to your dishes without needing fresh herbs
- Marmite – if you’re a marmite lover, a tiny spoonful adds a fantastic, rich umami flavour to dishes, and is great with eggs in the mornings!
Healthy Fats:
- Olive oil – For cooking, dressing, and drizzling over meals
- Peanut butter or almond butter – For breakfasts, snacks, or as a protein boost for meals like wraps or sandwiches
- Nuts and seeds – Perfect for adding crunch to meals, baking, or eating as snacks
- Coconut oil – Great for frying or adding to curries for extra creaminess
- Tahini – A creamy sesame paste for dips, dressings, or sauces
- Coconut milk (canned) – Adds richness to curries and soups and creaminess to pasta dishes
Canned or Jarred Items for Convenience:
- Canned coconut milk – For creamy curries, soups, and desserts
- Canned tomatoes – A versatile base for sauces, curries, or soups
- Canned vegetables – For adding to stews, soups, or salads when fresh produce is limited
- Canned fruit – For a quick and sweet snack or to add to breakfast cereals or porridge
Condiments & Sauces:
- Mustard, ketchup, or hot sauce – For adding extra flavour to sandwiches, wraps, and burgers
- Mayonnaise or garlic yoghurt – Great for wraps, sandwiches, or as a dip
- Salsa or chutney – Adds flavour to wraps, rice dishes, or as a side for dips
- Pesto – For pasta dishes, sandwiches, or as a topping for roasted vegetables
Bonus Items for Special Meals or Treats:
- Chia seeds or flax seeds – For adding to porridge, smoothies, or baking
- Canned olives or pickles – Great for snacks, salads, or adding a salty kick to meals
- Dried fruit – Perfect for snacking, adding to oats, or using in baking
- Granola or muesli – For quick breakfasts or snacks
Final thoughts on easy van life meals
During my time on the road, I was genuinely surprised by how simple my meals could be. There’s something about eating outdoors, combined with the hunger that comes after a long day of hiking or exploring, that makes even the most basic meals taste amazing.
Adjusting to food prep in van life does take a little getting used to, but I hope this has shown you how easy it can be to create delicious, nourishing meals using just a few store cupboard staples. With a bit of planning and creativity, van life cooking can be one of the most enjoyable parts of the journey.
Dani does vanlife in her bright yellow Peugeot boxer called “Sunny”. Based in Bristol, UK, with her partner she DIY the complete van conversion of Sunny and then tripped around Europe. She now does vanlife around the UK. Outside van life adventures and trip planning, she works as a project developer in renewable energy. See Dani’s full vanbandits profile.
Related Posts
